Zechariah

¹ Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.

² diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

³ and I will punish the leaders; for the Lord Almighty will care for his flock, the house of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle.

⁴ from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler.

⁵ trampling the muddy streets in battle. Because the Lord is with them, they will fight and overthrow the horsemen.

⁶ and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them.

⁷ and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.

⁸ and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before.

⁹ yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return.

¹⁰ and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough for them.

¹¹ the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria’s pride will be brought down and Egypt’s scepter will pass away.

¹² and in his name they will walk,” declares the Lord.